New Garmin Features you will Love in 2023
Karen Parnell
July 25, 2022
New Garmin Features you will love
Garmin devices are very popular with triathletes and it’s not surprising as they are rock solid and feature packed. With some models being solar powered or with extra long battery life they will easily last a whole IRONMAN event.
New models are aimed at ultra-runners so boast battery lives in excess of 80 hours. For example, the Garmin Enduro has a full range of features and still manages impressive battery life. In smartwatch mode, it can last up to 50 days. With solar assistance, it bumps up to 65 days. With full GPS, you can get up to 70 hours of regular use, or 80 hours with solar.
Garmin Enduro with up to 80 hours of use in GPS mode
Now Garmin is bringing out new features you will love in their new watches and then rolling these features down in to older models so you can update the device you have and benefit from them.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
I’ve been using heart rate variability with my athletes for many years, and this has historically meant and App like Elite HRV on your phone and a compatible Bluetooth heart rate monitor to record your morning readiness score.
Garmin is bringing heart rate variability (HRV) status to Fenix 6 watches with a new software update, which could have big implications for your training. HRV was introduced with the launch of the Garmin Forerunner 255 and 955 in June, and it's amazing to see the company rolling out a valuable new feature to previous generation watches so quickly.
Your heart doesn't beat in a perfectly regular rhythm like a metronome; instead, the period between beats changes depending on various factors such as stress, environmental conditions, and overall fitness. HRV is the difference in the periods between heart beats. This score will give you and indication of your physical and mental stress so you can decide how hard you can train that day.
The watches start by monitoring your HRV for a period of time to establish your baseline. They then track HRV overnight and plot it against your baseline. This info is displayed on the watch when you wake up (like the morning readiness score of the Elite HRV App), and in the Garmin Connect app on your phone, with explanatory text to help you understand exactly what it means.
It's a handy tool, and one that we already knew was coming to some of this generation's best GPS watches like the Fenix 7 and Instinct 2. However, as DC Rainmaker reports, it now looks like it's coming to the much older Fenix 6 as well.
Get some FREE resources including training plans here Chili Tri
How to get the HRV update
The company has just released a public alpha build for testing, which includes HRV as well as improved race time predictions, a new acute training load graph, and the usual collection of bug fixes. You can find links to download the build on Garmin's forums, with versions for all watches in the Fenix 6 range, though bear in mind that there may still be bugs to be ironed out, and there's a chance not everything will work as expected.
Garmin Watch showing HRV result
Alternatively, you can wait a little longer for the finished release candidate to be rolled out to everyone through Garmin Connect in the near future. It’s certainly great to see Garmin continuing to support a watch that was released three years ago with new features, when it could easily push owners to upgrade to the latest hardware instead.
Garmin Watches supporting HRV:
Built in: Fenix 7, Instinct 2
Needs installing: Fenix 6
Blood Glucose
Blood glucose monitoring for both consumers and athletes via a monitor patch you wear on your arm has become popular. For diabetics this has made it simpler and easier to know when you need to medicate and for athletes they can see when they need to top up carbs during training and racing to ensure optimal output.
In October last year Garmin release the CiQ App to support Dexcom and the Supersapiens/Abbot Libre blood glucose monitors.
Garmin Watches supporting Blood Glucose:
Most Garmin devices are compatible with the Blood Glucose App.
Supersapiens Blood Glucose Monitoring on Garmin Devices
CSS or Aerobic Swim Threshold
If you have ever completed a swim benchmarking test the chances are you would have done a 50m, 200m and 400m time trial. You coach would then use these times to calculate your Critical Swim Speed (CSS) or aerobic swim threshold. CSS is the theoretical fastest pace your can hold, without exhaustion. CSS has been used by companies such as Swimsmooth and Total Immersion for many years and has become a swimming standard.
This will be great for triathletes as it will give you different heart rate training zones for swimming, running and cycling.
Garmin has acknowledged this “standard” by adding it to future watches and hopefully rolling down to older watches in the range.
Critical Swim Speed on Garmin (5k Runner)
Learn more about CSS here.
Running Power on Garmin
Running with power is gaining popularity and has mostly be recorded using footpods like the Stryd device. Whilst not pure power like that gathered when cycling using strain gauges, running power is a calculation based on an accelerometer sensor. Stryd also has a pressure sensor to measure wind.
Using a footpod seems a bit old school so integrating it into your Garmin watch makes sense for ease of use and having all of your data collected via one device.
Garmin has offered running power via it’s Connect IQ (CIQ) store for 5 years but has now integrated it into the Forerunner 955, Forerunner 255, Fenix 7 and Epix 2 watches.
Why use Running Power?
Running power is more instantaneous than heart rate which can take time to increase or decrease in relation to your effort. This makes running with power useful for High Intensity Interval Sessions (HIIT), Fartlek and track sessions. It will also smooth out relative exertion when running on trails, uphill, down hill and in windy conditions. In these more extreme conditions sticking to power will ensure you are training in the right zone.
How to get Running Power in your Garmin?
From 2022 onwards all Garmin watches with a barometer should come pre-loaded with running power. If you have an older Gamin with a barometer, you can install the Garmin Running Power from CIQ.
To use Running Power you will also need a RD-POD or HRM-PRO chest strap. If you have the HRM-TRI or HRM-RUN these will also work.
The barometer will determine your ascent/descent stats and the accessory will be able to determine your motion in 3D. It will also use your inputted weight to calculate your running power.
Garmin uses your local weather forecast to account for wind resistance. The Running Dynamics pod (RD-POD) will also give you:
- Cadence - the number of steps per minute. It displays the total steps (right and left combined).
- Ground contact time balance displays the left/right balance of your ground contact time while running. It displays a percentage. For example, 53.2 with an arrow pointing left or right.
- Stride length - the length of your stride from 1 footfall to the next. It is measured in meters.
- Vertical oscillation - your bounce while running. It displays the vertical motion of your torso, measured in centimetres for each step.
- Vertical ratio - the ratio of vertical oscillation to stride length. It displays a percentage. A lower number typically indicates better running form.
- Ground contact time - the amount of time in each step that you spend on the ground while running. It is measured in milliseconds.
The running power feature is already included in these Garmin watches:
For the best accuracy, use an accessory to measure the running dynamics that are used to compute running power: HRM-Pro, HRM-Pro Plus, HRM-Tri, HRM-Run or running dynamics pod.
Garmin watch with Run Dynamics pod for running with Power
TrainingPeaks and FinalSurge support Garmin Running Power.
Garmin Watches supporting Running Power:
Built in: Fenix 7, Epix 2, Forerunner 255 and Forerunner 955
Needs installing: Fenix 6 and Forerunner 945
Want to know more about running with power?
New Garmin Features you will Love
As you can the new and very useful features in Garmin watches is not reserved for the new models but can be added to a model you may already have.
HRV, CSS and running power are useful additions for all triathletes. The addition of blood glucose monitoring will be useful to some athletes if nutrition is holding back your performance or if you are a diabetic.
If you would like a training plan which includes running with power for your next race and my coaching support to make sure you are ready for race day take a look at my training plans on FinalSurge.
Get some FREE resources including training plans here Chili Tri
Karen Parnell is a Level 3 British Triathlon Coach, 8020 Endurance and IRONMAN Certified Coach, WOWSA Level 3 open water swimming coach and NASM Personal Trainer and Sports Technology Writer.
Need a training plan? I have plans on TrainingPeaks and FinalSurge marketplace:
I also coach a very small number of athletes one to one for all triathlon distances, open water swimming events and running races, email me for details and availability. karen.parnell@chilitri.com
FAQ Garmin Triathlon Features
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Can Garmin track HRV?
In the past, Garmin detected the HRV values through the heart rate band, but users had to face the discomfort of the heart rate band. Now, you can download the app through the Garmin Connect IQ store, and can use the wrist optical heart rate to carry out HRV measurement.
Does Garmin have running power?
The Forerunner 255 and 955 are the first two Garmin watches that can track running power natively (that is, without the need for an additional app).
Does Dexcom work with Garmin?
A Dexcom app, available on Connect IQ for multiple Garmin smartwatches, lets you view your glucose levels at a glance and have the convenience of leaving your smartphone stowed away. The Garmin app for Dexcom displays glucose levels, trend direction and a 3-hour history right on your smartwatch.
Can Garmin watch measure blood sugar?
On-the-go blood glucose tracking now available with new Supersapiens Garmin integration. The Supersapiens smartphone app can now stream real-time data to Garmin watches, for real-time visibility into your fuelling by monitoring blood glucose levels for optimising training and recovery.
What is Garmin critical swim speed?
Critical Swim Speed (CSS) is defined as the theoretical fastest pace that a swimmer can maintain continuously without exhaustion, your aerobic swimming threshold. Your CSS is computed using your time for a 400 m or yard time trial, and your time for a 200 m or yard time trial.
References
DC Rainmaker
Garmin Previews HRV Status on the Fenix 6 Series Watches | DC Rainmaker
The 5K Runner
Garmin Running Power - An Explainer [2022] (the5krunner.com)
Garmin Connect IQ
https://apps.garmin.com/en-US/
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